Use of Allegories in A New England Nun :: New England Nun Essays

Use of Allegories in A New England Nun In A New England Nun, Mary E. Wilkins Freeman depicts the life of the classic New England spinster. The image of a spinster is of an old maid a char neer married waiting for a man. The woman waiting to be married is restricted in her life. She does chores and receives education to make her more desirable as a wife. This leads to the allegories used in this short bosh. The protagonist life paralleled both of her pets lives, her dog Caesars and that of her little yellow canary. Both comparisons are of restriction and fear of freedom. The animals and the woman of this story are irreversible tamed by their captivity, and no longer crave freedom. Ideas of sin guilt and atonement are also present between the woman and the dog. These images typify nineteenth century beliefs of women and their place in society. This story of Louisa Ellis is an allegory for woman, and uses the levels of allegory ironically. The stories of the dog and the bird layer the theme to help represent Louisas life, who in turn represents the Eighteenth century woman of society. Louisas animals and their relationship to her suitor are further links between her and her pets. The suitor brings out different traits than the norm in both the animals and the woman of this story. The mans influence is seen as disruptive. Man is seen as a threat to the serenity and security of a spinsters life. Imagery put forth by this story, and by stereotypes of the day is of the new England spinster. Women who were not married yet, lived a life of chores and piousness. They learned their domestic chores and other things that would make them presentable as a wife. They did kitchen-gardening work, read literature, mended clothing and the sort. These women were dependent on men to come and take them, to change their lives. Those who were not chosen were called old maids or spinsters. They typically were wealthy decorous not work, so they lived a singular existence at their homes. Their homes became prisons. Leaving the home was possible